by blogediter | Oct 10, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Chimney Balloon 96x33D
Q: Jason – I bought a Chimney Balloon a week ago and I thought I knew the size of my fireplace flue so I bought a 9×9 without measuring my flue or damper area. Now I see the tube type chimney is actually in need of a 12×12 to seal it up well. Can I exchange my Chimney Balloon? – TW
A: TW – The returns department will certainly work with you on this. Clean up your Chimney Balloon as best as you can and collapse and refold it so it is in as close to original condition as possible. If the Chimney Balloon is sooty from an attempted install, inflate it fully and rinse it off in your shower. Do not use anything abrasive (like a brush or brillo pad) to remove the soot. Just scrub stubborn spots with your finger or a little liquid dish detergent if needed. Keep the Chimney Balloon inflated and allow it to air dry overnight before you fold it up.
Package up your clean Chimney Balloon along with a copy of your receipt in a padded envelope, but DO NOT include your clear inflation tube or instruction card in the envelope. Write on your receipt a reason for the return and the size of replacement Chimney Balloon your require. Retain your inflation tube and an instruction card in your possession to use with your replacement Chimney Balloon.
Address your padded envelope to:
Chimney Balloon USA
Attn: Returns Dept
2123 N Pontiac Drive
Janesville, WI 53545
Be sure to use a Postal or courier service that has the ability to track your package. Chimney Balloon LLC cannot accept responsibility for a product that is not received. UPS or US mail with delivery confirmation is acceptable forms of tracking to ensure delivery.
When the returns department receives your returned Chimney Balloon they will test and inspect it to ensure it is in acceptable condition. Then a representative will contact you via phone or email to find out what size you require and help you with measurements.
In case you are wondering we do not sell returned Chimney Balloons as new on our website. We do further testing of the returned Chimney Balloons to ensure they are in “like new” condition. Then a couple of times per year we post our “like new” Chimney Balloons on eBay at a discount.
You can read more about this on the Blog about “Like New” discounted Chimney Balloons.
by blogediter | Oct 8, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Chimney Balloon Installed
Q: How long does a Chimney Balloon last? Should I expect to replace it every year? – CG
A: The Chimney Balloon is warranted for 1 year from purchase. The average lifespan for a heavily used (installed and uninstalled more than 6 times per year) Chimney Balloon is 4-6 years. If you install it and leave it…it will last indefinitely and only requires an annual check to see if it needs a top-off on air. Some of our original Chimney Balloons are still working after 14 years. Personally, my Chimney Balloon has lasted 4 years and counting…I remove and install it about 4 times per year. – Jason
by blogediter | Oct 8, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Q: Jason – Can I clean my fireplace chimney the easy way and just pour salt on the logs during a burn? – TW
A: TW, No, Where do rumors like this come from? I have heard this before but it is not true. Salt added to your fireplace wood during a burn does not help clean your fireplace.
Personally, I use my fireplace about 6 times per year. I clean it myself with a brush every 2 years (in the summer) and have a chimney sweep come and do it every 4 years. But that is a fireplace that gets very little use.
I have used the chimney sweep logs every once and a great while, but they really only help to a small degree to make your creasote less flammable. They certainly don’t hurt but my opinion is they are falsely advertised if they say they “clean” your chimney.
There is nothing like a good chimney scrubbing every so often. – Jason
by blogediter | Oct 5, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
2010 Weather Ionization test
Q: I am a renter that recently talked my landlord into allowing me to use the fireplace in my half of the duplex.
I am noticing a large draft created by the fireplace and have read about my gas heat going up the chimney.
I want to install an outside air source for the fireplace but am having trouble finding instructions for doing so. – AY
A: AY, Any adjustments you may do to the fireplace to create heat will cost in excess of $1500 for certain.
That is a mighty generous gift to a landlord. I hate to be the voice of doom on fireplaces but most open fireplace let heat out despite the damper when they are not being used, and they really suck heat out when they are being used or any time the damper is open.
There are some things you can do to improve the efficiency slightly during the burn, but they will not counteract the loss you will experience in furnace heat.
My best advice if you are looking to save heat and money in the winter. Plug up the chimney nice and tight with a Chimney Balloon (don’t rely only on your damper by itself to stop heat loss). to generate cheaper heat, talk with your landlord about how old the furnace is and how efficient it is.
by blogediter | Oct 3, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Fall & Winter
Q: Who can come out to measure the size needed for the installation of the Chimney Balloon? Do they install?
A: If you prefer not to do the sizing and install of a Chimney Balloon yourself, you can have your local chimney sweep do it. Most Chimney Sweeps are already familiar with the product. It is good to have a chimney cleaned every so often anyway to remove dangerous creosote buildup. When the chimney sweep comes over to clean your chimney you can show him or her the sizing page on this website (or you can email them about it in advance) and they can certainly size a Chimney Balloon up for you according to the directions. It is a very simple measurement, so it should not cost any extra in labor.
Installation of a Chimney Balloon is even easier than measuring for one, this page shows how it is installed. http://www.chimneyballoon.us/chimneyballooninstall.html
But you could call any chimney sweep to install it as well. That will likely cost you another house call though.
by blogediter | Sep 28, 2018 | Chimney Plugs
Q: Jason, have you ever had to clean the black soot marks off the outside of your fireplace hearth? What cleaner do you recommend? – TY
A: There are quite a few products on the market to do this. With all of them, you should be using rubber gloves and safety goggles.
My favorite for stone is a product by Simple Green. You apply it and lather it in with scrub Brillo pads and stiff brushes. Be careful in all situations not to overwork the grout and work bottom to top to avoid streaks.
For brick surfaces, you can by Aquamix from most big box home retailers. Careful with this stuff as it has a high alkali content.
In either case, it takes time and elbow work. Good luck TY!
